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Recent infrared aerial photographs of the Nashville area flooding were taken by TN Department of Transportation.  Generally TDOT charges for their imagery, however, according to a super secretive resource from TDOT’s GIS department, these photos may soon become available to state and local governments for free.  How did we get this super secret information from our super secretive source?  I’ll let you in on the secret… We emailed them…

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TDOT flew Monday, May 3rd – Saturday, May 7th over major flood areas.  As you can imagine, some of the later photos taken Friday and Saturday did not capture the full flood epidemic.   The good news is that we have the flight patterns.  Hopefully some of you will be able to incorporate these photos into your GIS soon. 

 No wonder it took all week, they flew all over the place!  Oh, and thanks for the screenshots Google Earth.

The seminar was broken down into sections.  Here is a resource list that might be helpful to those who both did and did not attend based off of the seminars agenda. 

Session 1 Building Basemap

• Map Template Gallery (Download professionally designed templates to make better, faster maps).  http://resources.esri.com/maptemplates
• Best Practices for Working with Map Templates (Free one-hour online training seminar.  Learn tips on creating professionally designed maps using cartographically rich map templates and your data).  http://www.esri.com/training
• ESRI Mapping Center (ArcGIS cartographic tips).  http://mappingcenter.esri.com
• Cartographic Representations (Learn to symbolize your data).  http://www.esri.com/representations
• Labeling with Maplex for ArcGIS (Documentation for Maplex for ArcGIS includes a 60 day trial).  http://www.esri.com/maplexdocumentation
• Creating and Publishing Maps with ArcGIS (Instructor-led training course.  Learn techniques for creating professional quality maps using a standard cartographic workflow).  http://www.esri.com/training
• ArcGIS Community Basemap Program (Contribute or obtain authoritative geographic data from this ESRI-hosted, GIS community map).  http://www.esri.com/communitymaps

Session 1-A Deploying the Map

• Using Data from Different Coordinate Systems http://www.esri.com/article34129
• Managing and Configuring ArcGIS Server (ESRI White Papers).   http://www.esri.com/serverwhitepapers
• Geodatabase Replication  http://www.esri.com/article34131
• Authoring and Deploying Fast Web Maps (Free one-hour online training seminar.  Learn best practices for designing and publishing map services).  http://www.esri.com/training
• How to Plan a Map Cache  http://www.esri.com/mapcache

Session 2 Sharing Content

• ArcGIS Online (Sign up for free) (You will receive 1 GB of free storage, making it easier to share content with others through groups you either participate in or create).  http://www.arcgisonline.com
• How to Get Started Using ArcGIS Online (Online video).  http://www.arcgisonline.com/help/help.htm
• Layer Packages  http://www.esri.com/layerpackages
• Sharing Layer Packages with ArcGIS Explorer (This blog post explains how to create good layer packages for sharing maps and content).  http://www.esri.com/agxlayerpackages
• Creating Models (Online Video).  http://www.esri.com/creatingmodels
• Introduction to ArcGIS Server (Instructor-led training course.  Develop skills in authoring and sharing GIS content on the Web or across your organization).  http://www.esri.com/training
• ArcGIS Explorer (download for free) (Start visualizing, analyzing, and presenting your content now.  http://www.esri.com/arcgisexplorer
• ArcGIS Explorer Quick-Start Tutorial (Free one-hour online training seminar.  Learn the basics of working with ArcGIS Explorer and how to create dynamic geopresentations in ArcGIS Explorer)  http://www.esri.com/training
• Enhance ArcGIS Explorer with Add-on Tools (Click/Search: TOOLS)  http://www.arcgisonline.com

I’m not going to tell you what’s coming in ArcGIS 10. 

Look How EASY I Made It For You.  Let me know if you want me to also read them off and click the links…

I started Monday at 8:30 a.m. with the “Getting Started with the ArcGIS Web Mapping APIs Session” by Presenters Jeremy Bartley, Kelly Hutchins, and Sterling Quinn.  I’m telling you…lot’s of cool stuff in the new APIs for JavaScript, Flex, and Silverlight. The Version 2.0 Beta was released Sunday, so I am pretty excited about that and the new editing widgets that are avaialable in all three api’s.

Over the past few days I attended sessions back to back, including: “Using and Extending the ArcGIS WebMap for Flex”, “Working with the ArcGIS API for Flex”, “Distributed Geodatabase Development”, “Working with the ArcGIS API for JavaScript” and several user presentations on Javascript and Flex work.  All that flexing can wear you out!  But it is Palm Springs!

Of course, the most exciting news to some of you will be the new Iphone Application Development API.  There is also a rumor of an Android Development API, which was the subject of many questions during the mobile technology question sessions. Everybody seems to be hot to jump on the Android bandwagon.

I also spent a lot of time with several of the ESRI development team leads whom helped me with answering several questions and providing
issue solutions.

Well that was a brief flash of the summit.  I am incredibly pumped about getting the pre release and implementing all the new stuff as soon as I get back to work!

Blog at you all again soon!
Rodney

Oh to leave with a list of a few of the new things for ArcGIS Desktop here is a list straight from Jack Dangermon’s slide!

• An ArcCatalog window built into ArcMap for quick data access
• Easier and faster ways to find and use symbols and tools
• Auto hide and dockable windows (e.g., table of contents) so your focus remains on the map
• Ability to execute geoprocessing in the background, allowing you to continue to interact with your map
• Integration of a new window in ArcMap to simplify project management and collaboration
• New Query layers that allow you to access all data (including spatial data) stored in relational databases via standard SQL
• Creation and management of time-based data
• Can display and animate temporal datasets
• Python window console within ArcMap
• Being able to automate everything with Python
• Desktop add-ins template

ArcGIS 10 – Top 10 New Features #feduc

Here are the top 10 features of ArcGIS 10 as described by ESRI

• Tables and windows can hide; the user can pin a window open; as windows appear or hide the map does not redraw; and some common operations have been tagged to a single pull down menu
• List layers by visibility: zooming into map allows different features to appear and the legend updates accordingly; the SELECT BY LASSO tool will add layer views to the table of contents.
• Tables: the user can dock tables anywhere on the map view; collapsing the table will display a tab at the bottom of map view
• Enhanced reporting allowing users to use selected features only and creating a report
• New search tool box (looks similar to search column on Microsoft products) in a right column area; search results may be from projects or files on your computer or on the web
• Symbology search: search through 20,000 symbols that are available or use the search box for symbols such as a “red push pin”
• Inclusion of catalog window into ArcMap
• Tool Tips for Geoprocessing and ModelBuilder: tool tips have been enabled so the user can see input and output features without accessing the ModelBulder tool individually; Also new is an “undo” or “redo” button; and, the user can include tools and models in the toolbar and dock these tools  on the toolbar;
• Layers can be “time enabled” to isolate a field that has a time stamp so that the user can step though a layer of features by time; a slider bar is used to incrementally step though the time layer
• License check out is now available so the user does not need to be connected to the serverWednesday, February 17. 2010 Posted by Joe Francica

The most obvious change is in the naming of the courses.  No more Intro I or Intro II.  Now it is called ArcGIS Desktop I, II, and III.  To learn more about the differences in the courses, ESRI has a neat little page where you can learn all about it.  There is even a wizard to determine which class you should take.

Throughout the conference, during breaks, we’ll have live demos of the latest internet mapping apps, ArcGIS demos, and Trimble gear.

This year we feature our Field to Finish solution which makes collecting and managing utility infrastructure a breeze.

Also, ask us about our Enterprise GIS solutions using full data replication.

For more info on the conference, click HERE.  We’ll see you there.

GEO-Jobe GIS is the Authorized Sole Source Trimble Dealer for Mapping & GIS Solutions in Tennessee and is the only vendor in the State authorized to handle Trimble Sales, Training, Service, Support and Rentals. GEO-Jobe GIS is also an Authorized ESRI Business Partner, Consultant, Reseller, Developer, and offers Authorized ESRI Training throughout the State. In addition, GEO-Jobe GIS is the Authorized Reseller for LaserTech Laser Offset devices and LizardTech MrSID technology.

The Trimble Seminars will be held in Johnson City, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Nashville, Jackson, and Memphis. We will be giving away a free 1GB iPod Shuffle to one lucky attendee at each of our seminars.

Each half-day seminar will include the following:

• GPS Theory Basics
  • What is GPS
  • Real Time vs. Post Processing
  • Learn about GLONASS (Russian), Galileo (European), and other satellite constellations
• Trimble Product Reviews
  • GeoExplorer 2008 Series (GeoXM, GeoXT, GeoXH)
  • Pathfinder Series (ProXT, ProXH, ProXRT)
  • Nomad
  • Juno ST/SB/SC
  • NetR5 Reference Station
  • Centimeter Level Trimble GPS (Trimble R8GNSS)
  • Hurricane & Zephyr Antenna’s for better Accuracy and use in tree canopy
• H-Star Technology Overview
• Real-Time Mapping – Do YOU want a High-Accuracy Real-Time Mapping Solution? – Come see it in action!! Requires no post processing for decimeter-level (4″) accuracy.
• Laser Offset Technology – For collecting assets in low satellite signal areas such as when you are close to buildings or under heavy tree canopy. If you can see it, you can capture it.
• Digital Photography – Our inventory is stocked with BRAND NEW 8 megapixel cameras with WiFi capabilities. These cameras allow you to capture high resolution imagery for assets in the field and then automatically transfer the image to the GeoXH/XT handheld maintaining a permanent link to the asset. As the data is exported out to the ArcGIS environment, the picture and link are automatically maintained and available for viewing back in the office.
• GIS/GPS Field to Finish Solution – Now you can get more done in less time with this turnkey package by GEO-Jobe GIS. Featuring out of the box solutions for Water, Gas, Electric, Stormwater, Wasterwater, Telecom, and more. We bring the complex down to a manageable workflow. With training added in, you’ll be up and running in no time.
• Mobile Editing - With so many handhelds and PDA devices now in the field, updating data in real time is not just possible, it’s now readily available. Access your data out in the field on the PDA and perform edits and updates which allows synchronizing back to the office as often as you see fit.
• In-Vehicle Mapping - GEO-Jobe GIS is a reseller of Panasonic Toughbooks and has already outfitted several utilities with In-Vehicle Mapping Systems. The latest Toughbooks come with internal GPS and broadband cards which provides flexibility for automated locating and updating in the field. This means workorders, for example, can be transmitted to and from vehicles from the office. Plus, add Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) technology and your fleet will be more efficient at responding to incidents when they occur.
• Fleet Equipment Management – GEO-Jobe GIS provides complete packages for your crews. From Toughbooks loaded with ESRI ArcGIS and ArcPad to Trimble GPS hardware and software packages, let us help you standardize your fleet so all of your employees are outfitted with the same equipment, fully setup and configured at GEO-Jobe, and delivered ready to go.
• Training – Do you need GIS or GPS Training?  GEO-Jobe offers a wide range of standard and customized Training Programs
  • ArcPad, GPScorrect & GPS Analyst
  • TerraSync & Pathfinder Office
  • Custom onsite Training
  • ArcGIS Desktop I
  • ArcGIS Desktop II (formerly Intro to ArcGIS I)
  • ArcGIS Desktop III (formerly Intro to ArcGIS II)